Car Insurancehttps://carinsurancecomparison.com.au Just another WordPress siteFri, 18 Jan 2019 05:52:08 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.3Found guilty of being distracted: The real-life consequences of reckless drivinghttps://carinsurancecomparison.com.au/found-guilty-of-being-distracted/ Wed, 16 Jan 2019 06:39:35 +0000https://carinsurancecomparison.com.au/basic/?p=420When we think of general “reckless driving”, a very clear stereotype usually comes to mind: a car full of teenage hoons drink driving or under the influence of drugs, speeding down a highway and causing a horrific trail of destruction in their wake. But reckless driving can take on many forms. From driving in thongs to texting at an intersection, most of us have probably driven recklessly at at least one point in our lives. While alcohol, speeding and juvenile driving offenses are still worth being wary about, it’s important to remember that many accidents have happened as a result […]

]]>When we think of general “reckless driving”, a very clear stereotype usually comes to mind: a car full of teenage hoons drink driving or under the influence of drugs, speeding down a highway and causing a horrific trail of destruction in their wake.

But reckless driving can take on many forms. From driving in thongs to texting at an intersection, most of us have probably driven recklessly at at least one point in our lives.

While alcohol, speeding and juvenile driving offenses are still worth being wary about, it’s important to remember that many accidents have happened as a result of a responsible adult becoming momentarily distracted.

Some of Australia’s most lethal driving behaviours come from the most common diversions. We’ve compiled some helpful tips on how you can better protect others and yourself on and off the road.

What constitutes reckless driving?

In 2018, the Safe Driving Report found the most common, dangerous things Australians do behind the wheel. The results may surprise you:

According to the report, 62% of drivers admitted engaging in potentially dangerous activities while operating a car.

Perhaps you regularly engage in one, or some, of these activities without truly knowing the risks. If you continue to do any of the following while driving, you’re putting yourself, your passengers and others on the road at risk of an accident:

Eating takeaway

Driving in thongs

Sending a text message

Smoking

Reaching back to deal with children

Answering a call directly to your ear

Driving with your knees

Using social media

Micro-sleeping

Changing clothes

Applying makeup

Watching a movie

Reading a book or newspaper

Some of these activities may seem innocent, but when all of your attention should be on the road, even the smallest impairment can cause a massive accident.

Earlier this year, a selfie-loving 19-year-old Victorian adolescent accidentally filmed herself crashing at high speed while using Snapchat. Luckily, there was no serious injury, but others have not been so lucky.

Ever felt tired behind the wheel? Between 2012 and 2016, driver fatigue played a role in approximately 13% of all road accidents. Shocking findings last month found that tiredness is now the second-highest killer on state roads.

A 2007 report from NRMA Insurance found that 38% of drivers studied had a shoe dislodge before an accident. Something so simple as driving in thongs can be counted as reckless driving, and could even incur hefty fines in some circumstances.

What are the consequences?

Getting distracted behind the wheel, or making reckless decisions—whether it’s driving after one too many drinks or applying your lippy on the go—can be life changing.

At best, you could receive a slap on the wrist or a fine. At worst, it’s severe injury or death. When you drive recklessly, you’re playing roulette with multiple bullets.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of you, or a loved one, being involved in an accident. With a plethora of available resources, we can make Australian roads safer, teach our young to drive more responsibility behind the wheel and better protect our communities from the dangers of reckless driving.

How can we protect others and ourselves?

We need to remember that any number of behaviours could cause an accident, and not just the ones we typically associate with reckless driving stereotypes.

By making small adjustments and making sure we concentrate fully on the road in front of us, we can have peace of mind that our driving is helping to protect both ourselves and everyone else out on the roads.

If you see someone driving recklessly, try to avoid them and pull over. Take note of their number plate, and report the car immediately to the police. It might seem excessive, but it could one day save a life.

No one is invincible, and every life is important. We need to remember the effects of reckless driving on us, our families and society as a whole.

Where can you find support?

Road Trauma Support Services Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation contributing to the safety and wellbeing of road users. They offer counselling services, safe driving education and information on statistics. You can contact them on 1300 367 797.

]]>Could where you park your car be affecting your insurance cost?https://carinsurancecomparison.com.au/could-where-you-park-your-car-be-affecting-your-insurance-cost/ Wed, 16 Jan 2019 06:31:40 +0000https://carinsurancecomparison.com.au/basic/?p=416Car insurance is one of the big expenses of owning your own vehicle. Liability insurance is required, so you need to have some level of coverage in order to register your car. Although your driving habits play a huge role in how much you pay, there are a few more things that influence your premium price. So how can your location and where you park affect your insurance cost? What factors contribute to insurance premiums? It’s important to understand that multiple elements go into how much you pay in insurance. Sure, your driving record matters, but so does where you […]

]]>Car insurance is one of the big expenses of owning your own vehicle. Liability insurance is required, so you need to have some level of coverage in order to register your car.

Although your driving habits play a huge role in how much you pay, there are a few more things that influence your premium price. So how can your location and where you park affect your insurance cost?

What factors contribute to insurance premiums?

It’s important to understand that multiple elements go into how much you pay in insurance. Sure, your driving record matters, but so does where you live.

Areas that are deemed “safer” will have lower insurance premium costs. That’s a simple concept, but things change when you add an increased population and a lack of competition.

Population

The more people who are on the road, the more expensive your car insurance is going to be. If you live in a populated state, you’re going to pay more money than someone who lives in a state with fewer people.

This extends to urban and rural areas of the state as well. Someone who lives in the city – where the bulk of the claims come from – will pay more money than a person living in the suburbs.

Of course, the number of miles you drive will also dictate how much you pay in insurance. If you commute a long distance from your home in a rural area, you might end up paying more.

Another element of your location is the number of claims that come from your state. This is completely out of your control, but it’s something that insurance companies need to consider.

It’s fair to assume that there are a lot of unsafe drivers if you live in an area where a substantial number of claims originate.

Competition

The competition in your area also plays a role in how much you’re going to pay. The more insurers in your region, the more options you’ll have.

These options drive competition and lead to insurers offering lower prices on premiums. It’s unfortunate, but those living in a state with only a handful of insurers will need to pay more money for car insurance.

Climate

You might not think much about the climate when it comes to car insurance, but it can affect how much you pay in several ways.

Places that are prone to bad storms will put your car in harm’s way when it’s parked outside. Inclement weather also increases the chances that you get into an accident when you’re driving.

Parking and Car Insurance

Where you park is also going to play a substantial role in your car insurance premiums. Car insurance parking on street is going to be the most expensive since it puts your car in harm’s way every day.

Parking on the street means more dings and dents, major accidents, and people driving off after hitting your rearview mirror. All of these things increase your likelihood of filing a claim, which is what the insurance companies are protecting against.

Parking in a driveway will lower your insurance costs since you’re not exposed to the same amount of risk. You’ll still face some risk, though, like falling branches, environmental hazards, and theft.

Keeping your car in a garage is the best way to lower your premium cost. Not everyone has this luxury, however. Those living in the city know how costly parking can be, and not every house in the suburbs has a sizeable garage.

If you do have a garage at home, though, we suggest making good use of it! You’ll be glad you did after reporting it to your insurer.

Types of car insurance

Not everyone will be able to live in a place with the cheapest car insurance, park in an enclosed area, and make sure their vehicle is kept risk-free. There are no guarantees!

Here’s a breakdown of the different levels of car insurance you can buy so you can better understand your needs.

Third party property insurance

Third party property insurance is the cheapest level of cover, but it doesn’t protect your car from any damage. If you get into an accident, your insurer will pay for the vehicle or property that was involved in the crash – but not yours.

The upside here is that your premiums will be lower. The downside, obviously, is that you’ll pay for your own repairs out of your pocket. This insurance can be a good idea if you have an older car you don’t intend on maintaining.

Third party fire and theft

This policy is the same as the one above but will also cover you in the event of a fire or auto theft. Note that those living in an area with a higher risk of theft, damage or crime will almost always pay more for this level of cover.

Comprehensive cover

As the name suggests, this is the highest level of car insurance you can purchase. It can protect you from weather damage and other issues that may arise.

Since so much is covered under the “comprehensive” umbrella, this type of insurance is highly influenced by where you live and park your car. Parking on the street, for instance, can make your premiums considerably higher than they would be if you parked in a garage.

You should consider your needs, driving habits, and ways to improve your driving when thinking about car insurance. Being a safe driver is a huge part of how much you pay, but it’s far from the only element.

]]>Australian Car Crisis: Do we have more vehicles on the road than people?https://carinsurancecomparison.com.au/australian-car-crisisdo-we-have-more-vehicles-on-the-road-than-people/ Wed, 16 Jan 2019 06:21:50 +0000https://carinsurancecomparison.com.au/basic/?p=409Australia, we’re in a crisis—and the cause is most likely sitting on your driveway. The number of cars on our roads is outgrowing the Australian population. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of registered passenger vehicles in Australia has increased by a whopping 43 percent the past century. Last year, there were 19.2 million registered motor vehicles in Australia. The nation’s population was only 24.7 million in 2018, and with a constant multiple-car-ownership increase, the figures are alarming. Apart from the obvious reasons—global pollution, traffic, smog, and noise—cars are even making us sick. Instead of walking or […]

]]>Australia, we’re in a crisis—and the cause is most likely sitting on your driveway.

The number of cars on our roads is outgrowing the Australian population.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of registered passenger vehicles in Australia has increased by a whopping 43 percent the past century.

Last year, there were 19.2 million registered motor vehicles in Australia. The nation’s population was only 24.7 million in 2018, and with a constant multiple-car-ownership increase, the figures are alarming.

Apart from the obvious reasons—global pollution, traffic, smog, and noise—cars are even making us sick. Instead of walking or cycling, we’re driving everywhere, and car time equals sitting time.

An Australian study has found sitting in your car for more than one hour a day can be detrimental for your health.

The study highlighted the connection between car use and cardio-metabolic risk, high glucose levels, larger waist circumference, and an unhealthy BMI. So, how many hours do you clock up behind the steering wheel?

Are we spending too much time in our cars?

While we can’t stop commuting to work, we can start to use a car only when necessary. According to transport statistics, the most car trips for people living in a city is between 2-5 kilometres. Necessary? We think not.

If you’re only going a short distance, consider walking or cycling. You may be surprised how much easier it is to get from A to B without having to deal with traffic, not to mention it’s a lot cheaper to use your feet vs. fuel.

Three months ago, Australian petrol prices hit a 10-year high due to global investment instability and major oil producers strangling supplies. Then there are registration costs, insurance (or not having insurance), and mechanical costs to keep it running.

But the biggest cost of all is the one on the environment.

A vehicle’s impact on the environment happens before it’s even burning fuel. The manufacturing process of cars is extremely energy-intense, using materials such as steel, rubber, plastics, paints and glass.

Extracting fuel from the earth also uses a lot of energy and has the potential to damage local ecosystems.

When the car is finally on the road, the emissions of carbon monoxide, smog, and other toxins continue to pump pollutants into the air, causing humans to breathe in this diluted, chemical concoction directly into the lungs.

How can we put an end to this car crisis?

Unfortunately, Australian public transport is just as much part of the problem as it is a solution. While our big cities have more public transport options, other smaller postcodes are missing out. Statistics prove the cities are using public transport with a reported 76% of households in the City of Melbourne without a car. 57% of all households within the Sydney CBD have no car while Adelaide CBD has 40% and central Brisbane has 35%.

Good news, right?

Unfortunately, just out of the city hustle are suburbs with five or more cars per household. Ouch.

So, what can we do now to make a difference?

Here are a few tips to reduce your car use:

Carpool to work.

Use public transport whenever possible.

Cycle or walk small distances.

If possible, work from home or limit your weekly travel to the office.

Do one big grocery shop per week to limit little trips back and forth.

]]>Big Brand Car Insurance Rort: How The Little Guys Have Changed The Gamehttps://carinsurancecomparison.com.au/big-brand-car-insurance-rort-how-the-little-guys-have-changed-the-game/ Mon, 14 Jan 2019 03:00:04 +0000http://carinsurancecomparison.com.au/?p=470The secret is out: switched on customers are changing the car insurance game. Over the last 12 months, over one in five, or nearly 3 million comprehensive car insurance policyholders, changed or renewed their policies because they found a better deal. With an increase of 400,000 policy holders in four years making the switch, car insurance companies are having to up their game to offer better policies to customers in a competitive market. The trend is shifting away from automatic policy renewal as customers do their research. Automatic renewal of policies has been declining since 2013, a shift which appears […]

]]>The secret is out: switched on customers are changing the car insurance game.

Over the last 12 months, over one in five, or nearly 3 million comprehensive car insurance policyholders, changed or renewed their policies because they found a better deal.

With an increase of 400,000 policy holders in four years making the switch, car insurance companies are having to up their game to offer better policies to customers in a competitive market.

The trend is shifting away from automatic policy renewal as customers do their research. Automatic renewal of policies has been declining since 2013, a shift which appears to be continuing into 2019.

Many car insurers providers offer the same levels of cover, which means there is much less difference between quality of service. The downside to this is that major providers use their big brand names to attract customers, who may automatically think they are getting a better bang for their buck. This isn’t always the case. Some smaller providers provide some great, no lock-in plans, which means you can switch and swap as you please, depending on the individual small-print from your insurer.

The conclusion is that it absolutely pays to research car insurance providers and choose the best deal, rather than defaulting to the policy you currently have. But who has time for that?

At Car Insurance Comparison, you can compare multiple car insurance plans in the one place. The service not only lets you know who has the best car insurance deal, but how that deal compares to other plans on the market—saving you time and money.

Here’s How You Do It:

Step 1: Visit CarInsuranceComparison.com.au and answer a few quick questions.Step 2: You’ll be able to compare a selection of the best deals on offer for you.

Major retail providers use their big brand names to attract customers, who may automatically think they are getting a better bang for their buck. Smaller retail providers provide some great no lock-in plans, which means you can switch and swap plans as you please, free of charge.

So how does this affect you? As of January 2018, there were 19.2 million registered motor vehicles in Australia, with the national vehicle fleet growing by 2.1 per cent between 2017 and 2018. That’s approximately 92 per cent of Australian households with a car.

Based off statistic provided by the Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance series, between September 2016 and September 2018 alone, there was a 10 per cent increase in average gross premium rates. Although insurers have passed on these rising costs to policyholders, industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 1.8 per cent over the five years through 2018-19, to $20.7 billion.

Additionally, with more providers in the market, there’s more competition. This means that everyone is fighting for customers and will regularly offer discounts for new customers switching to their service.There is an ongoing concern about how many drivers are still unclear about what they are covered for within their chosen policy. Over one in three (37 per cent) drivers consult their policy document as a source of information about what their policy covers, and one in five of those with third-party only insurance wrongly believe they are covered against damage caused by an uninsured driver (21 per cent) or accidents which are their fault (20 per cent).

So how can you be sure you’re getting the best car insurance cover for you? Since we launched CarInsuranceComparison.com.au, thousands of Australians have already jumped on board. Car Insurance Comparison is a trusted online service that makes comparison shopping for car insurance easy. With the click of a button, you can start the fast, easy and free process of comparing car insurance plans to find the right cover, at the right price, for you and your family.